Milne Rd

By Stefan Schlick

Directions: From US26, take the Dersham/Mountaindale Rd exit west of Hillsboro. At the T, turn left, cross the tracks and turn south in about 0.5mi. Halfway down Milne Rd you can turn west onto Harrington Rd. Along Harrington, watch for raptors on the lone snag (a Prairie Falcon was wintering in the area in 2008-2010) and check the oaks for Acorn Woodpecker. The place to position yourself to see Short-eared Owls rise near dusk in winter is the rise about 200yds south of the intersection of Milne & Harrington, Short-eared Owls have been wintering at this site for the last several years (2010-2016). In recent years, Milne, Harrington and Gordon Rds have also been one of the most reliable sites to see Rough-legged Hawk in the county in winter.

Target birds: Rough-legged Hawk, Short-eared Owl, Western Meadowlark (all in winter)